Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-05-12

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Otsegvsrs Of the soarss 81 EasOpean
politics are ons b. Ous sonsog to tbs
ecnaiaSi0n that ssr between Germany |
snd France csnD0s IoDa Be esIayse-
Many even pEsdist that ths coming
summer viii nos Be pssssd without
h0stilisies, and these vho take an IL
trsns view Of the situation wo1id have
a. believe THAI an oatbEsAk may ceeaR
81 s6y nOusat.
TbsEs IL mach FeassE to belisve thai
this gloomy visw Of the situation e not
uuwzrranted. The peaceful end 70 the
Feoezs fr0nties episode does not iEdi-
cate that the relations betvsen the two
csantries are more cordial than has
been Supposed. TIE very fact that var
vas Almost precipitatsd b an incident
which, in q normal state Of Affairs,
wSuid Be aIlowed 10 pass without at
tTseting general attention, indicates
hoW strained the relations betwes9 the
too governments really are and how
tTiding an sceoFFence might bring
about the hostiliiies Shich have bean
90 narrowly syeFted.
The German government evidently
does not desire war. II, - least, does
not desire 10 assume the offensive. and
ID anxious TO throw upon France the
responsibility Of beginning the connict.
while this l. true. is is equally evident
that the German government, ss well a.
ali classes Of the German people, Il i'm
pressed With the conviction that var
cannot be avoided. Every move thss Is
made IL prompted By this conviction.
Preparations are being made for .
great campaign, and the natsFe Of Ihese
preparations is saoh a. TO indicate that
thOse who make them DO not believe the
campaign 70 Be far Of. II the teleR sphed
reports are 10 be credited, the pre-
paFAtions are most extensive and varied
Bioodhoonds are being trained to find
the French oGtposts and falcons are
being trained 10 hunt dswn the French
carrier pigeons. These are not such
preparations as are made for 9 cam
paiaR which is expected at some indeh
mite time in the futars. They are
rather such Is are made when bossiIi
ties are regarded 81 imminent. II the
German government is TO be judged by
these acts. 10 clearly expects var before
many months.
II Is evident that the French govern
ment also desires TO avoid, or, At least,
t0postpone war. Whether this is due 10 a
consciousness that Francs is not In a
position TO cope with her historic adver-
cary CT to belief that the proper time
for hostililies has not arrived, ID would
be impossible to say. II is evident, how.
ever, that the government endeavors 10
exert restraining influence upon the
Paris press, and also sndeavors 10 pre-
vent - far % possible popular mani.
festations Of the general hatred eater
tanned toward Germany.
Notwithstanding the pacific attitude
OF the two governments, the feeling 10
favor Of war Is rapidly increasing both
In France and in Germany. Both peo-
pies have come 10 regard war as insv-
liable, and both are accordingly show
ing an saeeFness for the conflict not
aitseesher dissimilaF IN its nature to
that shown by tWo bull dogs who face
each other in the pit, and only await
the Slipping Of the Leash. The popular
hatred Of Germany 10 France has lately
been shown in numerous significant
ways. The recurrence Of these mani
fsstat iona at shorter and shorter inter
walls Indicates that the feeling is rapidly
increasing, and the fact that thew asrur
in Ali marta Of FrAuna indicates that the
Excitement IA neither local nor tFansi-
tory. The war feeling IN Germany. Of
course, increases In corresponding
degree. The fact that she presentation
Of O German opera Ia Paris almost pro
vokes a riot, naturally awakeus IN the
breast of the average German a desire
TO inhict punishment cpOn the French.
IL il said that two months ago a war
against France would have been exceed
ingly unpopular In Germany, bat that
such a var would nov be supported
With the utmost enthusiasm.
How, it may be asked. will hostilities
Be brought abouti There are many
ways. Another such frontier incident
As that Of last month may excite the
French people 80 such poini that the
government will DO compelled either to
declare war, or to give place 10 9 gov
eminent that will. Or the excitable
Partisan populaoe. in sush an ebulliIion
a. that caused by the presentation OF
'LOhengrin." may commit excuses Of
suoh nature that tbs German govern
ment will be compelled 10 take cog
aiEancs Of them. The tension is great
and increasing, and the situation Is
such that any occurrence. however
tTifing 1t may be in itself, may preeipi-
tate the esudiet which both peoples de
sire, and which both governments fully
expect and are earnestly sudsavorizg
10 postpone.
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FroFa ne mlisf ef pissiy sach 0ss
sA0ud stretch forth a hassi 10 al ne ssf
fsrisg. II fNsTs srrr ,sis az opportunity